Expert Tips to Make Ridesharing with Your Dog a Breeze

Ridesharing has been growing in popularity with good reason. For starters, it can seriously help you out when you’re in a pickle and need someone to take you from point A to point B.

Ridesharing has been growing in popularity with good reason. For starters, it can seriously help you out when you’re in a pickle and need someone to take you from point A to point B.

Then there are the environmental considerations. Ridesharing is an environmentally-friendly transport option because a group of individuals are using one vehicle instead of three or four. And let’s not forget to mention the cost. If you rideshare regularly, you’ll see just how much you save in transport costs.

These all make ridesharing the convenient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-saving transport option it is. However, it can be a little bit more complicated when your dog is involved. Needless to say, dogs can be more than a handful sometimes—not least when they’re part of a rideshare! Fortunately, there are some handy tips anyone can easily follow when they take their dog along on a rideshare. Keep reading to find out what they are!

1. Let the Driver Know Ahead of Time

Communication is key when it comes to ensuring a smooth rideshare with your dog. Just like you’d inform a driver that your child is also coming so you’ll need space for a comfortable car booster seat, you need to let them know every time you plan to bring your dog.

It’s important to give them a heads-up so they can adequately prepare. While most will be happy to accomodate, some drivers may not accept any four-legged passengers in the first place. Be sure to check if you should bring along a car seat cover for your dog or if they’d rather use one they own themselves.

2. Have the Right Accessories Ready

As a rideshare passenger, you’ll need to ensure that your dog won’t make a fuss while they’re in the car. Angela Stringfellow from Safe Sound Pet says that it’s your responsibility as their owner to keep them on their best behavior. “Just because your rideshare driver is happy for your dog to come along, doesn’t mean they’ll be able to dogsit them,” Stringfellow says. “They’ll be busy driving, so you need to guarantee that your dog won’t be a distraction to them.”

After all, a dog that’s noisy or constantly moving about in a rideshare will not only be a source of frustration to the driver and other passengers, but also a danger to the safety of everyone in the car. Keep your dog safe by strapping them in with a dog car harness or dog seat belt. To keep them entertained (and quiet!), it’s a smart idea to give your dog an indestructible toy to chew for the duration of the journey.

3. Don’t Forget to Bring Along Post-Ride Essentials

Now you know which accessories you need to prepare for during the ride, you’ll also need to prepare everything your dog needs after the ride. You certainly don’t want to realize as soon as you reach your destination that you’ve left some essential items you need for your dog at home.

To be sure you have absolutely everything packed and ready, prepare a checklist that features items such as a trusty dog harness and leash. If you’re spending the day out together, you may also want to bring along some food and a travel water bowl.

4. Remember That It’s a Learning Curve

If ridesharing is new to you, you’ll know that it can be a lot to take in. Even after you’ve spent years with your dog by your side, bringing them along in a rideshare can be quite a shift in dynamics.

That’s why we can’t stress this point enough—remember that it’s all a learning curve. After each rideshare you take, you’ll learn how to better manage your dog’s behavior in the car. Your first rideshare with your dog is bound to be a bit stressful, but rest assured that it gets easier. Soon, your dog will know how to behave as they should...especially if they know there’s a tasty treat waiting for them at the end of the ride!

Then there are the environmental considerations. Ridesharing is an environmentally-friendly transport option because a group of individuals are using one vehicle instead of three or four. And let’s not forget to mention the cost. If you rideshare regularly, you’ll see just how much you save in transport costs.

These all make ridesharing the convenient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-saving transport option it is. However, it can be a little bit more complicated when your dog is involved. Needless to say, dogs can be more than a handful sometimes—not least when they’re part of a rideshare! Fortunately, there are some handy tips anyone can easily follow when they take their dog along on a rideshare. Keep reading to find out what they are!

1. Let the Driver Know Ahead of Time

Communication is key when it comes to ensuring a smooth rideshare with your dog. Just like you’d inform a driver that your child is also coming so you’ll need space for a comfortable car booster seat, you need to let them know every time you plan to bring your dog.

It’s important to give them a heads-up so they can adequately prepare. While most will be happy to accomodate, some drivers may not accept any four-legged passengers in the first place. Be sure to check if you should bring along a car seat cover for your dog or if they’d rather use one they own themselves.

2. Have the Right Accessories Ready

As a rideshare passenger, you’ll need to ensure that your dog won’t make a fuss while they’re in the car. Angela Stringfellow from Safe Sound Pet says that it’s your responsibility as their owner to keep them on their best behavior. “Just because your rideshare driver is happy for your dog to come along, doesn’t mean they’ll be able to dogsit them,” Stringfellow says. “They’ll be busy driving, so you need to guarantee that your dog won’t be a distraction to them.”

After all, a dog that’s noisy or constantly moving about in a rideshare will not only be a source of frustration to the driver and other passengers, but also a danger to the safety of everyone in the car. Keep your dog safe by strapping them in with a dog car harness or dog seat belt. To keep them entertained (and quiet!), it’s a smart idea to give your dog an indestructible toy to chew for the duration of the journey.

3. Don’t Forget to Bring Along Post-Ride Essentials

Now you know which accessories you need to prepare for during the ride, you’ll also need to prepare everything your dog needs after the ride. You certainly don’t want to realize as soon as you reach your destination that you’ve left some essential items you need for your dog at home.

To be sure you have absolutely everything packed and ready, prepare a checklist that features items such as a trusty dog harness and leash. If you’re spending the day out together, you may also want to bring along some food and a travel water bowl.

4. Remember That It’s a Learning Curve

If ridesharing is new to you, you’ll know that it can be a lot to take in. Even after you’ve spent years with your dog by your side, bringing them along in a rideshare can be quite a shift in dynamics.

That’s why we can’t stress this point enough—remember that it’s all a learning curve. After each rideshare you take, you’ll learn how to better manage your dog’s behavior in the car. Your first rideshare with your dog is bound to be a bit stressful, but rest assured that it gets easier. Soon, your dog will know how to behave as they should...especially if they know there’s a tasty treat waiting for them at the end of the ride!

Author Bio

Author Bio

Ana Markovic is a frequent contributor at Pet Life Today. She comes from a sunny and warm region of central Serbia, but now she lives a little up north in the city of Novi Sad. Ana is passionate about helping pet owners provide their four-legged friends with the care and attention they need to be able to lead healthy lives. She had two cats named Ceca and Lunja while she was growing up, together with a parrot named Kica. Ana has been writing about pet-related topics, advice, and trends since 2016.